Microsoft

A large part of the reason Microsoft's Windows 7 promises to be successful is because it won't be all that long before support for the very popular Windows XP ends -- somewhere around 2-3 years from now. So, how good is support for Windows 7 today? ... Microsoft recently took the opportunity to announce some of the best features behind its Windows 7 troubleshooting apparatus. It starts with something called "Action Center," the Redmond-based firm's new technical support system. According to Microsoft general manager of product quality and online support Lori Bronwell, Action Center includes over ... (view more)

Many users are taking up the offer for Windows 7 "Upgrade," which requires the user to have a pre-existing, legitimate copy of Windows 2000, XP, or Vista already pre-installed on the user's machine. However, Microsoft has recently confirmed it is ... technically possible to install an upgrade-only edition of Windows 7 on a machine that doesn't already have another version of Windows pre-installed. That said, the firm has also pointed out that doing so is an illegal breach of licensing conditions. Several websites have printed what they describe as 'workarounds', which use an upgrade ... (view more)

An unfinished feature has been discovered lurking within Windows 7, which would allow a regular laptop computer to be transformed into a wireless access point. The "secret" WiFi feature is not a foreign or accidental creation, however. Microsoft ... crafted "Virtual WiFi" in an effort to " virtualize " one wireless card as separate adapters for several different devices. Original efforts to forge ahead with "Virtual WiFi" were halted in 2006, when the project was discontinued. However, the work has apparently made a grand re-entrance with Windows 7, now known as Native 802.11 Virtual Wireless ... (view more)

In its attempt to make Windows 7 a success and build a successful chain of retail stores, Microsoft has declared war on one of the most annoying parts of buying a new PC: bloatware. Bloatware -- known less charitably as crapware -- is trial software ... which PC manufacturers include with new computers. To the manufacturers and developers it's a great deal: the manufacturers get some bonus content while the developers can expose their products to new computer buyers. However, many users find the programs useless and unwanted; they usually come with limited functionality until the full edition is ... (view more)

Despite attempts to make itself 'cool' again alongside tacky launch parties for the new Win7 operating system, Microsoft is looking a bit silly this morning after it announced it would cancel a joint television project with Family Guy creator Seth ... MacFarlane. Family Guy is an animated tongue-in-cheek comedy that is known for saying the things some of us think to ourselves but rarely have the courage to say. It insults just about any ethnic, racial, gender, or nationalist group on a week-by-week basis. Microsoft: Show Too Controversial That's part of the reason it's so popular, which is ... (view more)

Unless you've been sleeping in a cave this past week, you're aware that Microsoft's Windows 7 is now available . And, of course, everyone is asking the question, "is it worth the upgrade?" For those of you who frequently rely on your laptop battery, ... the answer might be yes. It's a problem PC makers have yet to completely overcome: short laptop battery lives. Even as computers get lighter, thinner, and faster, the amount of time they can survive "off the cord," so to speak, is rarely over a few hours. Win 7 Cuts Power Usage by 20% Giving that short life a boost in the arm is Windows 7, which ... (view more)

In the aftermath of the much-anticipated Windows 7 release , a large number of users are complaining that their copy of Windows 7 downloaded from Digital River will not install correctly. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Digital River is the driving ... force behind Microsoft's $29.99 Windows 7 upgrade offer to students. Digital River is no stranger to handling Microsoft transactions, as the company fulfilled a similar role when Windows Vista and Office 2007 were released. Problems Recorded Within Hours Users began experiencing problems shortly after downloading their new operating system. One ... (view more)

Windows Vista was perhaps the biggest disappointment in Microsoft's history. So, what did the Redmond-based company do to improve upon their past mistakes, and how is Windows 7 better than Windows Vista? Windows 7: Improving Upon The Past After the ... embarrassing Windows Vista debacle, Microsoft and the computer makers realized that they needed to work together to make some necessary changes. Windows 7 therefore improves upon the fundamental changes that came with Vista, making it faster, easier to use and more intuitive. (Source: cnet.com ) Close Ties with PC Developers In breaking with past ... (view more)

Microsoft is running a series of special promotions in the hopes of kick-starting sales of Windows 7. The company will offer a new deal each day in the first week of the system's release. The most high-profile promotion starting today takes place at ... Best Buy. The store is offering a package, subsidized by Microsoft, which gives users three HP computers -- a desktop, a laptop and a netbook -- plus an LCD monitor, an Internet router and free set-up advice for a total of $1,199. Three PCs for the Price of a Mac Even taking into account that the desktop being offered is a relatively low-spec ... (view more)

One of the most anticipated aspects of the forthcoming Windows 7 will be its security features . According to Andrew Storms, director of security operations of nCircle Network Security, three specific security facets are the hot items to look for ... when first experimenting with Windows 7, due to be released tomorrow. More Secure, Less Bothersome The first new security improvement can be seen in the presentation of security measures. With Vista, people were always being asked to review their decisions via an "are you sure?" window request. With Windows 7, the user controls the extent with which ... (view more)